As a self-proclaimed golf nerd, I always find myself tinkering with equipment in hopes of fixing my game, because who needs lessons, am I right? With that, I’m always trying to find any way to help improve my game in the equipment department. And guess what? The pros can be the same way at times. Take, for example, an article from the PGA Tour this week about well-known pro Russell Knox and his new flat stick.
On Tuesday ahead of the Valspar Championship, Russell Knox, unhappy with his putting performance of late – he currently ranks 170 in Strokes Gained: Putting in 2019 – went on the search for a new flatstick on the putting green, where various putting manufacturers showcase their new putters. As a longtime SuperStroke putter grip user, a particular putter caught his eye propped against the SuperStroke staff bag. You guessed it, Knox started trying out Cunningham’s one-off Bettinardi-Mizuno putter… and he “fell in love with it,” says Cunningham.”
Now, usually I’m looking for the latest and greatest on the market to improve my game. Knox, on the other hand, went the other direction. He found a 10+ year old putter to try and fix his putting woes. But it get’s better when it comes to the agreement between Arnie and Russell Knox:
Initially, as Cunningham explained, he quoted Knox $2,000 for the putter, and he says Knox was “ready to write a check.” Knowing how golf works, however, Cunningham decided to let Knox use it free of charge.
“’When you’re done using it’ — which all putters end up on the shelf eventually — ‘just give it back to me,’” Cunningham told Knox.
That’s right Tour Pro, cut me a check for two grand and you’ve got yourself a deal. Can’t blame the guy one bit, it’s just hilarious to me. At the end of the day, Cunningham let Knox “borrow” the putter, and we will see if it stays in the bag.
This isn’t the first time I’ve seen a quirky putter story off of the PGA Tour and it won’t be the last. Heck, good ol’ Jimmy Furyk won the Tour Championship and a cool $11 mil with a putter that cost him $40 off of the used rack at the local golf shop. Talk about a return on investment, eh?
Bottom line, PGA Tour Pros can be club ho’s just like you and me.
